1. Introduction
UniSC is committed to offering a postgraduate research environment of the highest quality for all candidates within our Higher Degree by Research (HDR) programs.
The objective of the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Research Scholarships is to support research training by providing financial support to students with a high level of research promise to undertake a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) program to support the University research strategy.
This schedule of conditions applies to the UniSC Research Scholarship (UniSCRS) and does not apply to Research Training Program (RTP) scholarships.
2. How to apply
Information about application, eligibility, selection, offer and acceptance processes are provided in the Higher Degrees by Research Scholarships – Procedures, the Higher Degrees by Research Scholarships – Awarding Guidelines and the relevant scholarship web page advertisement.
3. Scholarship inclusions and disbursement
UniSC Research Scholarships may comprise of either:
- Tuition Fee Offset scholarship only; or
- Stipend, allowance and tuition fee offset
The letter of offer will stipulate what is included for each awardee.
3.1 Tuition Fees
UniSC’s annual tuition fees are published on the UniSC website. Visit the Tuition Fees web page and choose your student type (domestic or international) and select the Higher Degrees by Research tab.
3.1.1 Tuition fees will automatically be paid each semester for the duration of the scholarship support.
3.2 Stipend and Allowances
3.2.1 The 2026 full-time base stipend is valued at AUD$38,000 per annum. The level of the base stipend will be reviewed annually with no reductions occurring during the standard duration of the scholarship. Full value of scholarship packages are made available to students in their offer letters.
3.2.2 Stipend payments are made to the student on a fortnightly basis to their nominated Australian bank account and are tax-free for full-time students.
3.2.3 Where a UniSCRS stipend recipient is approved for part-time study, part-time stipends rates are 50 per cent the full-time rate and are not tax-free.
- A UniSCRS stipend recipient may claim up to a combined total of A$2,000 to assist with their costs associated with undertaking their HDR at UniSC under the following categories:
3.2.4. Relocation
Where a student must travel a distance greater than 100km to their UniSC campus of enrolment to commence a Higher Degree by Research on a UniSCRS:
- Removal expenses (excluding travel)
- Travel expenses (one way)
- air travel expenses up to a maximum amount equivalent to an economy or student concession airfare, whichever is the lowest amount
- travel by car calculated using a per kilometre rate of allowance as determined by the University and consistent with current University recommended rates up to a maximum amount equivalent to an economy or student concession airfare, whichever is the lowest amount
Claims for the relocation allowance must be made within six months of the date of commencement of the Scholarship and provide original receipts and supporting documents.
3.2.5 Overseas Student Health Cover
Where a student visa holder requires overseas student health cover, the approved stipend scholarship will provide single cover for up to 59 months.
4. Commencement and duration
4.1 Recipients of a UniSCRS may commence anytime throughout the calendar year of award. UniSCRS Awarded programs can only be deferred with specific approval from the Dean, Graduate Research and Researcher Development. This condition supersedes section 4.2.5 & 4.2.6 of the Higher Degree by Research Admissions and Enrolment Guidelines.
4.2 For newly commencing students, all stipends will commence as of the day of HDR program commencement. For continuing HDR students newly awarded a stipend, the offer letter will outline the start date, section 4.5 will also apply to continuing students.
4.3 The duration of a UniSCRS will be adjusted by changes between full and part-time candidature. The pro rata equivalent of the remaining standard duration will apply.
4.3.1 The standard duration of a UniSCRS Tuition Fees Offset matches the maximum duration of candidature on the offer for admission. This is typically four years full-time equivalent for a Research Doctorate, and two-years full time equivalent for a Research Masters.
4.3.2 The standard duration of a UniSCRS stipend is normally three years full-time equivalent for Research Doctorate studies, and 18 months full-time equivalent for a Research masters. Stipends will cease at the conclusion of the standard duration or on thesis submission, whichever occurs first.
4.3.2.1 UniSCRS stipend recipients may be granted an extension of up to six months where the award holder applies formally to the University, is making satisfactory progress and the grounds for the extension relate to the study that are beyond the control of the student, and where funding is available. Work commitments cannot be accepted as grounds for an extension.
4.3.2.2 In exceptional circumstances and where funding allows, UniSCRS stipend recipients who are enrolled in a doctoral degree may be granted a second and final extension of up to six months (total extension of 12 months).
4.4 Where project arrangements permit, a recipient who begins as a student in a master level program and who, before the maximum duration of one and a half years, changes to doctoral level program, may hold the award for a total described in section 4.3.2, 4.3.2.1 and 4.3.2.2.
4.5 Periods of study already undertaken towards the degree prior to the commencement of the scholarship will reduce the duration of the award tenure.
4.6 The duration of a UniSCRS will be:
- increased by any periods of unpaid leave or paid sick or parental leave approved by UniSC; and
- adjusted by changes between full and part-time candidature. The pro-rata equivalent of the remaining standard duration will apply.
5. Leave/suspension of entitlements
Standard leave entitlements described in the Higher Degrees by Research Candidature Progression – Guidelines apply to all UniSCRS recipients. Students do not apply formally for this leave and the scholarship end date will not be extended.
5.1.1 These leave entitlements may be accrued over the life of the UniSCRS stipend but will be forfeited when the UniSCRS stipend is terminated.
5.2 UniSCRS recipients who are temporarily unable to continue their studies and wish to suspend their scholarship must apply to the Graduate Research School at least 4 weeks prior to the date from which they seek a period of unpaid leave. The minimum period of suspension is 3 months.
5.2.1 The total period of suspension is normally added to the original tenure of the scholarship. If at any time during the suspension of the scholarship, the student undertakes enrolled study, this period will be deducted from the tenure.
5.3 Students may receive additional paid leave of up to a total of 60 days during the duration of the UniSCRS stipend for periods of illness and family caring responsibilities where the student has insufficient standard leave entitlements available under paragraph 5.1, provided that a medical certificate/relevant documentation and leave application has been provided by the student to the Graduate Research School within two weeks of returning to study.
5.4 UniSCRS recipients who have completed 12 months of study are entitled to 140 consecutive days paid parental leave to be the primary carer during the duration of the UniSCRS stipend.
5.4.1 Parental and partner (5.4.3) leave must be:
- Arranged at least 12 weeks before the commencement date, with a certificate from a registered medical practitioner or certified midwife stating the expected date of birth included in the leave request;
- taken at the time of birth or adoption.
Periods of paid parental leave are in addition to the normal duration of the award. The University will extend an award to compensate for an approved period of parental leave.
5.4.2 UniSCRS recipients who have not completed twelve months of their award may access unpaid parental leave through the suspension provisions in section 5.2.
5.4.3 UniSCRS recipients who are the partner of the primary carer of a child, will have access to 10 consecutive days of paid leave.
5.5 UniSCRS recipients will be provided with 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave for each year the student is in receipt of an UniSCRS stipend and undertaking a full-time student load and 5 days of paid family and domestic violence leave for each year the student is in receipt of an RTP stipend and undertaking a part-time student load.
5.5.1 Students can access support via Safer Communities for confidential advice and assistance, including accessing leave. The University may request reasonable evidence that the leave is required to deal with the impact of family and domestic violence. Evidence requirements will be proportionate and handled sensitively, recognising the privacy and safety of the student. The University will not require detailed disclosure of the nature of the violence. All information provided will be managed in accordance with the University’s privacy obligations and with regard to the student’s safety and wellbeing.
5.5.2 The leave entitlement referred to in paragraph 5.5 does not accrue over the life of the UniSCRS stipend and does not roll over to subsequent years. Any periods of leave will extend the duration of the award.
6. Study Load
6.1 UniSCRS stipend recipients are expected to prioritise their study and enrol on a full-time basis. Part-time study will be considered on a case-by-case basis for exceptional circumstances such as project requirements, medical reasons or carer’s responsibilities.
6.2 Where part-time study is approved, the remaining period of support is extended to part-time rate pro rata.
6.3 Employment commitments will not normally be accepted as grounds for part-time enrolment while maintaining the UniSCRS stipend. Employment will be monitored by the Principal Supervisor in the first instance. The UniSC recommendation will be that generally, UniSCRS recipients should work no more than 1 day per week, averaged across their program, while ensuring that milestones are met. Employment must not impact on making satisfactory full-time equivalent progress in an HDR program.
7. Research topic and program of enrolment
7.1 UniSCRS are awarded to support the UniSC research strategy by supporting research student participation on UniSC research projects. Accordingly, requests to change research topic or HDR program are not normally permitted.
7.2 UniSCRS recipients seeking to change program should refer to the HDR Candidature – Procedures for information.
7.3 Change requests will be considered by the Dean, Graduate Research and Researcher Development on a case-by-case basis where exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated.
7.4 Where a request to change research topic is denied, UniSCRS recipients may relinquish their UniSCRS and pursue their preferred topic without UniSCRS support.
8. Research at other organisations (e.g. industry Internships)
8.1 The University remains responsible for candidates who are approved to conduct research at another organisation (often in the form of Industry Internships) and must be satisfied that the organisation can provide adequate support, supervision, training and research time for the candidate.
8.2 UniSCRS payments will continue where an industry placement, research internship, professional practice activity is undertaken as part of their HDR within the original period of support (duration).
9. Specific candidate obligations
9.1 All HDR candidates are required to conform to the regulations, policies (including disciplinary provisions) of the University.
9.2 UniSCRS recipients must abide by the conditions of the scholarship outlined in the Scholarship Letter of Offer, UniSCRS Schedule of Conditions including any addendums.
9.3 UniSCRS recipients must apply themselves diligently and to the best of their ability to the successful completion of the degree.
9.3.1 UniSCRS recipients must maintain satisfactory progress. Progress will be reported on using the scheduled Progress Plan and Review (PPR) milestones.
9.3.2 Employment commitments will not normally be accepted as grounds for extension, part-time enrolment or lack of progress.
9.4 UniSCRS Tuition Fees Offset only recipients may enrol full-time or part-time as agreed with their Principal Supervisor.
9.5 UniSCRS stipend recipients are required to maintain full-time enrolment except where medical reasons or carer’s commitments prevent this, substantiated by relevant medical certificates.
9.6 Employment commitments will not normally be accepted as grounds for part-time enrolment by stipend recipients.
9.7 UniSCRS recipients will abide by all relevant legislation on human and animal experimentation and rulings of the ethics committees of the University.
9.8 UniSCRS recipients will notify the Graduate Research School promptly of any changes in their circumstances that may affect their eligibility to continue receiving payments under the award.
9.9 UniSCRS recipients acknowledge that these Conditions are subject to any further or other conditions, including conditions as to funding of the scholarship, which may be made by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, or any other relevant government body.
The discontinuation process described in the Higher Degrees by Research Scholarships - Procedures may be applied if a UniSCRS recipient fails to comply with any scholarship conditions, or maintain any eligibility criteria provided on their offer letter.
10. Specific obligations of the University of the Sunshine Coast
10.1 The University must comply with the Higher Degrees by Research - Academic Policy and associated Procedures and related documents which outline the responsibilities of the University, enrolling unit and supervisors.
10.2 The University reserves the right to make changes at short notice after publication. UniSCRS recipients will be notified in writing to their UniSC student email address of any changes. To ascertain if any changes have been made to this document after receipt, please contact the Graduate Research School.
This information was correct at the time of publishing. The University reserves the right to make changes at short notice after publication. UNiSCRS recipients will be notified in writing to their UniSC student email address of any changes. To ascertain if any changes have been made to this information, please contact the Graduate Research School.
Last updated 24 March 2026